I was driving in the streets of Mumbai today morning. Following the rules of the road and laws of traffic and driving safely in the left hand side of the road when all of a sudden a three wheeler tempo came mounting up its front wheel and rammed my vehicle with a collision that smashed most part of the right hand side of my car.

Before I could realize what had happened the street was packed with traffic jam and the driver of the tempo was staring with a gaze as though not realizing what had happened. Neither did he move his vehicle nor was he getting out of it, but instead shouting at the now suddenly congested traffic to move aside so that he could drive by.

I was absolutely jammed in the car unable to move as the impact had shut the front right side door with brute force. All I could see from my driver’s seat was that the right hand side, headlights, the complete bonnet of my car was thoroughly damaged and there were glass pieces from my car on the surrounding area from the quick impact. After a long gap of about 5 minutes which seemed like ages to me, the driver from the tempo started his vehicle and started slowing backing it up. I could see there was no visible damage to his tempo.

I kept trying to move out of the car but that impact had pushed in the pieces of metal with sheer angst into the vehicles heart so fiercely, that there was hardly any place for me to move from the driver’s seat or even try to open the door.

The left hand side was impossible to move or get out from too. Somehow I managed to reach the backseat and from the only door that seemed to be opening, I got out and walked towards the tempo driver.

I asked him for his driving license. He showed no remorse and no regret for his actions and clearly told me that he does not have a license and that he has been driving for over four decades, apparently because of which he needed no license.

My vehicle was stationed in the same place at the left hand side of the road. He refused to come out of his vehicle. As the enormous mass gathered, I called for the police station immediately, got a few local stations numbers and began dialing them. Then I walked towards my car and got shook up as I saw the damage. It was painful to watch the damage done to my car by the driver of the tempo who was standing as though he was one of the onlookers from road. He then started getting out of his tempo and I walked towards him asking for his license again.

It was only then that myself and everyone gathered around realized that this guy was completely under the influence of alcohol.

He had a timid and retiring disposition to his movements too as he swayed and started stuttering in a tone influenced by heavy alcohol. He was creating a racket towards me as he pointed towards everyone as though asking for their support by shouting, “Why are you driving on the left side, don’t you know you have to drive on right side?” I called up the police station and meanwhile he called up his contacts who in another 20 minutes or so quickly came and handed the guy what clearly looked like the drivers license and tempo papers. He was still refusing to come to the police station.

Meanwhile the cops had arrived and after a big discussion we all went to the police station nearby. The cops were very helpful and supportive. They spoke to me and they spoke to him and his heroic gestures and sarcastic remarks were proof enough coupled with his swaying walks and fetid breath that screamed of heavy alcohol all the while.

By the time the process of FIR was complete and I left with the necessary copies and papers, half the day had already passed. I had to call up for the tow truck to drive my car all the way to Ghatkopar for getting the damages fixed as the car was in no condition to be driven.

The tow truck came and it lugged my dear vehicle and as we drove towards the garage I could only feel the malevolence with which that guy had rammed my beautiful vehicle into such a horrid looking metal beast.

I can still feel the impact on my bones as I am typing this up. I can still clearly hear the glass pieces shattering and the metal crushing the other parts of the car. Onlookers were constantly wondering how someone could survive such an impact looking at the condition of the vehicle as they saw me scurry inside the vehicle just to make an attempt to crawl out of it.

This mishap and the waiting process till the cops had come had taken more than 30-40 minutes. Till then I stood there alone trying to stay near my car and keep a watch on that ghastly tempo driver so that he does not get away or drive away with his friends. As I waited for the cops to arrive, I could clearly see that the tempo drivers contacts had gathered around and were helping him with so many things with the tempo and his appearance.

There was a beauty salon nearby and there were two ladies out there who after seeing the incident like the scores of passersby and onlookers nearby, were at least kind enough as they approached towards me and in kind and subtle voice asked me if I needed anything, like water or a place to sit.

That’s when I realized, at that given moment; I was standing there alone till that point of time with no help and no sign of any other form of support for over 30 minutes after going through such wreckage.

It was the worst feeling anyone could have. It is feeling lonely and unwanted or uncared for when you already are in pain, both physical and mental. I said to myself, that the feeling of being unwanted or uncared or lonely is even worst than having no food or money.

Now this tempo driver, who had broken all the rules of the road in a single go, who was also completely drunk at 11am in the morning, standing there supported by his group of friends and I was out there standing alone. I found myself going through a stage of soliloquies as I stood there alone during that moment.

Somehow, after leaving the car in the garage, the journey back home in the auto rickshaw was much worse than the journey with the car as it was getting towed.

I don’t know now how much time all this process is going to take. But I got one thing right again for the millionth time in my life, “Life isn’t fair”

But that does not mean, I am not going to drive again or am scared that I felt death brush by me so closely today.

I am as human as you could be, yes. I feel pain and fear as much as the other guy, I too fall and land on my face at times.

But then I get up and I for sure don’t give up. Whether its people or routine life. I like to offer life a second chance because I know that deep down, someday the regret of not taking that second chance or not trying for something may be just that one more time might be more painful than anything else.

Life is too short to waste it on assumptions, ego or anger.

Today’s experience has taught me and made my anything but bitter. In fact, I have added so much energy into my mind and system after my brush with death today, that I am more than going to welcome decisions that I might have otherwise refused or said no to. Like I said, ‘Life is too short to waste it on assumptions, what ifs, ego or anger.’

I am not going say things like ‘I am thankful for another day’ no, that’s not my style, but yes, I will for sure from today make life worthwhile and positive for at least one person each day some way or the other.

It was March 2009. An inviting odour came from the kitchen as the freshly steamed veggies and hot curry with Paranthas rolled out coupled with a delicious sabzi and what looked like freshly chopped salad dressing on a plate.

I was at the dinner table with few of my cousins as we dined and discussed everyday routine, varied, amusing and interesting things that were happening in all of their lives. I strangely, had nothing to say…..

After a scrumptious dinner and lot of chit-chat and fun they all left for their homes and I was at the patio of the building. There was some restlessness and some uneasy feeling from within. I had a good paying job, wonderful academic credentials and so to speak a nice and relaxed life. But after the discussions today with my cousins and few family friends who had joined me and my family for dinner, I realized that my job was taking every ounce of my life. There were no breaks, no holidays and no free time so to speak. Worst of all, no learning or growth. That was doubled with tremendously poor work culture and a lifestyle that consumed 80% of all employee time in inter-office politics rather than productive work contribution. As these thoughts rolled out, I realized that this day, today was the first time I had taken a holiday in ten months and that too due to excessive mental fatigue. In the past ten months my work had taken me across 23 cities across 4 states in India. There was lot of restlessness.

As I was walking on the terrace, I saw a big mirror that was carelessly cast aside in one of the corners of the patio. I moved towards it and my physiognomy told me that there was more than mere mental fatigue on my face. There was a complete sense of dissatisfaction and understanding that there would be no growth in an environment as such. I kept pondering over the various meetings, clients, my past work experience of around 8 years that had trained, taught and molded me into a man of strong work ethics and high discipline. Even the brands that I had worked with before this job were not only professional, but an amazing learning experience. Both that were completely lacking at the current place of my work. No wonder, there was so much mental fatigue.

Just then at about 10pm, I got a call from my boss screaming and shouting on my day off that too, a leave that was taken after a gap of ten months of straight work consuming 12-14 hours every day for six days a week. He went on and on rambling about some task that his secretary was to take care of and due to her convenient millionth day holiday tomorrow, would be pushed back again and how he needed me to call the said individuals and coordinate and get the task done. I did not respond or say anything. The phone call at that moment was as though it was an apparition of ill omen.

The work that I was doing off-late was not challenging, neither was it recompensed ever with a pat on the back or even a gesture or a mere sign or prospect for future growth. I had 8 years of rich experience PRIOR to this job and that too with some wonderful clients and brands across the world. Now, how I somehow landed up at this place, is probably left at best for a symbologist to decipher. It was that day that I decided that I would start something on my own. I had the necessary academic credentials, rich corporate past work experiences of at least good eight accountable years prior to this job and a very strong will.

I came back home, drafted “Vision for my company”, “Mission for my company” and guidelines for work ethics.

There are many points that were listed down as part of this epic moment for me. Here are just a few of those that were written down by me among the first eight work ethics & company policies –

1. You do not need to come to work at a physical location if –

The work you are doing can be done from home too

There is no task that requires you to be physically present at the office

Your commuting time cuts down on your productive time (Especially in a city like Mumbai, where traffic conjures up your life’s half energy)

2. Any and all discussions that may even remotely stem to “inter-office” politics to be avoided at all costs. Nothing other than work or professional learning gets discussed and every discussion, personal or work to be put into an email or in written with each other. (I have realized that once you start to putting things down in paper or in writing, you tend to cut down time pass content, noisy chatter and so many things that take up your rather productive time. Because this is when you realize, that such clutter of superfluous discussions can only cause harm especially if its not benefiting anyone, including yourself)

3. Clients Goals are the only and top priority. We are not here to entertain and it’s a strict ‘No-nonsense’ environment that we will create. A fun environment, nevertheless, with real freedom to express oneself and contribute to the positives of the overall company and self-growth. We are not reporting to clients, but working with them as a team. (This policy has been majorly responsible for us being able to contribute so many ideas, value-adds, innovative marketing and brand strategies, high ROI for our clients over the years)

4. We are here to build brands, not a business or amuse guests and visitors that need a spotlight on their head every time they step out of their house. We are here to build an Organization. “Business are created dime a dozen, organizations are seldom built” (My favourite line)

5. Employees are free to learn and add any skill they want (even outside their professional need) even during work hours if their task for the day is already completed.

6. No one will be called up on phone unless it’s something that can really be not discussed on email.

7. No one needs to work beyond their work time allotted (that for me meant either that the person was not performing or competent OR that he /she was being given more tasks than they should be given, which also was not right)

8. No one will be called for work or sent emails for URGENT tasks after their scheduled work time. Plan the tasks in advance and plan it well with proper time and clear understanding of deadlines.

There were many more added, edited over the years, but these were the first few. After this I continued and typed out my resignation letter at the company where I was working. It took a total of 2-3 months more before I had resigned from my job, but luckily for me, I had brands waiting for me to contribute…. And I loved it.

It was then on March 1st, 2010 (It was on HOLI day) that we officially moved into an office with a team of 5-6 professionals specialized in design and development and its been exactly three years today since the wonderful journey began.

There have been so many professional and personal learning experiences that I went through during these three years that made me realize that it would have taken me at least additional 10 years of work experience to gain what I had gained in these three years.

“In the last three years, we have catered successfully to 30 BRANDS from 15 different industries across 4 countries. I loved every single moment of it. The pressures kept on mounting, but my team members and without a doubt, some really wonderful client brand partners made it worthwhile.”

Today, I can honestly say, that the decision I took the other night at the patio of my building was the right one. I do not know what the future holds, but I can proudly say, that through our company services, in the last three years, we have added tremendous value to various Corporate brands with innovative digital marketing, social media and brand management strategies that have resulted in higher brand reach, more quality leads and in many cases, even actual high ROI of sales conversions too.

As a business, we have socially been responsible, always been high on ethics and whenever we could, either me as an individual or with my team members, we have contributed any and all of our resources to add some real-value to those less privileged in the society.

During these first three years of my business, I can proudly say today, that I have bought my first new house in Mumbai, got my first car, grew both professionally and personally and can more pompously say that none of my team members at my company, who have either changed jobs or shifted to another location or pursued higher studies have ever disliked being here even for a single moment. And, how do I know that? Because they have always got their space when they needed it, be it for family time, health or even professional growth roadmap which was chalked down by them and me sitting together at the office or using skype call. We have hardly had clients that have disliked us or our work, well, there may be one or two but I can honestly say, we have hit the bull’s eye on customer satisfaction at over 95% in these three years.

I sincerely know I am still at the infancy stage of business and that I am just a toddler in the world of legends and icons. Especially when there are mentors like Mr.Dhirajlal Ambani (he will always live in our hearts,inspiring billions around the world), Mr.Narayana Moorthy who are real the real reasons behind people like me even getting the idea of starting on our own.

I usually never celebrate my Birthday, that’s the reason, I thought, I will take this opportunity today to celebrate TECHDIVINE’s birthday today of turning three!

It’s hopefully going to be a long journey ahead with curves, bumps, highs and lows and I hope that with all your good wishes, I make it through and am able to build an Organization that actually adds value to the society in general, adds value to those working with us and keeps innovating.

Like this:

There are literally a million experiences that we can have everyday of our lives, I know I do. Some teach lessons, some remind you that deep down inside you are human and still just a man.

Many ideas, thoughts, innovative strategies, business decisions, emotional, social desires etc keep happening everyday and when all of them add up to your average everyday routine, there are only two ways of dealing with it. Either you keep fighting, enjoying the moments, trying to find solutions to concerns or you eventually crack down under pressure. It’s a human mind and there is only a certain level of pressure that it can take.

This again, differs from individual to individual. What one goes through on a daily basis and what he or she expects from life and all those around, is at times what tends to define how much they can take from those daily beatings that crop up midst the many smiles that one experiences too.

Some of the very important things that I have personally learned are that firstly, we cannot hold grudges about people and resentment about experiences. Simply because, the other person too has probably reacted a certain way because it was what they were going through at the moment, just like how we go through each emotion. Sometimes a small joyous decision or moment feels like a bliss of a lifetime and sometimes minor concerns and issues that crop up in our lives tend to take their toll on our minds that breaks us down too.

Life is all about second chances, but chances, without the question of asking WHY it happened. Rather, go ahead with the belief that this experience too has taught us how to deal with a new kind of pressure. Thus building a stronger bond and relationship than ever before between the two.

Sometimes we do and say things that we don’t mean and most often than not, we sadly don’t say things we actually mean.

So lets start the morning today with an idea and a sincere attempt to give life a second chance. Most importantly, give ourselves a second chance. Not to question why, but rather welcome any decision or experience even if it was bitter, back from the past into our lives again with a mere smile and a fresh start. Like I said, no questions asked.

We were more thrilled than the clients as at every stage we strongly believe that “Our Clients SUCCESS is our Success”

So on an emotional front, today morning, I visited few Online groups of the institutes where I have been a part of as a student (IIM Indore & Welingkars) and shared emails or posts with them by stating a “THANK YOU” to the colleges from where I have grasped lots of resourceful learning (Both academic and personal experiences). The academic training and experience at these institutes have helped me at various levels to create an environment in our organization which, coupled with the help of our team members and clients team members add value and success stories for our client brand partners across Industries and countries.

I strongly believe that even though one’s academic background may or may not be directly responsible for actual professional success, but it’s out of a sense of personal gratitude that we as individuals tend to feel the need to share at least a simple THANKS for those who have been part of our learning curve journey, especially when the success is not merely your success, but reaching out as part of a larger team effort.

Looking forward to many more such success stories for all our client brand partners in the near future to come.

Here are some links for the Social media marketing & Your SMQ ~ Social Media Quotient case studies:

“The whole story revolves around the beautiful lush habitat of Anamon jungle. The story is filled with suspense, mystery and with plots that not only have mythical creatures but magical and mesmerizing moments.

Will the young Prince gain an entrance and meet the Mysterious Murelies or get stuck inside the doomed Karolo Tamoir? Will the legend King Areli come to his rescue if he is unable to answer the three questions of the wise?”

First off, here’s a quote from the author’s biography, as he posted it on Amazon:

“Through this book, [the author] has definitely touched a new level of creative writing by creating worlds that would engage young minds with wonderful imaginations, worlds that are filled with amazing creatures and varied experiences. Also, this books story shares across a strong and positive message to it’s readers about hope, inner strength and the ability to believe in self.”

While that’s not a sample of the book itself, it certainly captures the feel of the book. A little awkward, a little over the top, but sincere and energetic and honestly reader friendly. The whole enterprise feels like a slightly skewed and more fun rewrite of “The Jungle Book”, with some nicely written passages, some off-kilter passages, a bit of fancy, a touch of sweetness, and maybe more well-intentioned personality than actual restrained writerly skill. In places it reads more like a prose poem than a carefully constructed literary piece.

But you know, sometimes there’s room for something than runs more on charm and sincerity than on dry technique, and this book is less Disney and more Krazy Kat. So, if you’re looking for something a little out of the mainstream but just brimming with good intentions, this might be worth a try.

Read about the Anamon jungle and feel it come to life in your mind . It’s the story of little leonidas and everything he faces on the path to his rightful place in the Anamon.
The book paints beautiful scenic pictures of the jungle .Flowing rivers soaring mountain peaks, endless land everything leaves you wanting more .
The story moves forward at a good pace making the appropriate moments lively and is totally gripping.
An awesome book by this author .Already waiting for the next one !

As a Brand and coffee lover, I impatiently awaited the launch of Starbucks in Mumbai, India this week.

And to make sure I “experience” Starbucks within the first 48 hours of it’s launch here, few friends and myself headed to energize ourselves with the freshly brewed coffee & larger than life brand experience this Sunday morning.

Starbucksopened their very first outlet in India on October, 19th 2012, in Mumbai at the historic Elphinstone building located in South Mumbai.

The excitement across Mumbai for Starbucks was very vivid as we saw ourselves waiting in the line among the few hundreds under the SUPER BRAND Logo of STARBUCKS.

The line moved quickly and as we entered, we saw this majestic larger than life upscale coffee bar with light wood, earthy interiors and a massive area for coffee lovers to hang out with their favorite drink coupled with the fresh aroma of coffee.

We had a wonderful and warm welcome from the Starbucks team members. There was another big queue inside, to place the order. As we stood there looking at the menus placed throughout the queue area, on what to order, we stirred up a conversation with a member of the Starbucks team. She had a lively smile and an amazing energy. She was from Starbucks UK, out here temporarily, helping the India team get accustomed to offer the real “Starbucks” experience to all of us. She shared her coffee passion and about the idea and story behind opening the first Starbucks in Mumbai, India. With her interesting conversations, we hardly realized that we were in the queue inside to place the order for almost another 20 minutes. I had my Caramel Frap and it did not disappoint.

What makes them stand out as a Power BRAND:

Household name:

This ubiquitous coffee super brand ranks up alongside household names like Google, Facebook and Coca Cola today because of the way they have made sure that you leave Starbucks with more than just a cup of coffee.

The Décor & feel:

The décor is welcoming and earthy. The stylish, elegant and comfortable chairs, sofas, wooden tables, free Wi-fi offered via TATA Communications in Mumbai, India is definitely a great contributor.

The BRAND Experience:

Once you place the order, you head towards the coffee bar counter where you see the team creating magic with their fast paced hands and churning out aromatic freshly brewed elegant coffee’s for you.

They write down your name on your Coffee cup and call each name personally for users to come and collect them. This is the first step towards knowing your customer.

Warmth:

There is always a big smile on every team members face as they greet you and welcome you to STARBUCKS. Their sincere approach to letting you know your order is on the way, their personal attention to each customer waiting for their coffee was simply amazing, especially since there were hundreds of us waiting for the order at the same time.

I loved the fact that, for the first time ever, STARBUCKS is getting it’s coffee from India itself.

Their amazing selection of Coffee menus, the way they make it in front of you, the speed, the passion and smile with which they personally connect with ease with you while doing so, makes you want to experience Starbucks again and again for sure.

It’s very generously priced compared to their competitors in India whose pricing is almost at the same level and the fact that STARBUCKS gives you a BRAND experience too with every sip of your coffee with a beautiful décor and a comfortable ad friendly connect, which is clearly missing across the other competitors brands.

I can’t wait to have my second cup of coffee at the comfortable and cozy coffee lounge soon. Who’s joining me at STARBUCKS?

Do share your coffee experience with me here. Would love to hear from you.